Wednesday, November 7, 2018

A Reversal of Fortune: Paper Mills Gain Leverage - October 2018 M&A Activity


The past two decades have been a turbulent time for the paper industry in the US and Canada, as producers closed mills in a frantic race to catch up with the downward demand for the printing grades of paper, from newsprint to high-end fine coated papers. The weaker paper producers declared bankruptcy and many paper mills ceased production. At the same time, the stronger players have been on a conversion binge, jettisoning the production of printing grades in favor of the paperboard and containerboard grades used to produce folding cartons, corrugated boxes and other types of packaging. (see The Target Report: Corrugated Gets Glam – May 2018). As the volume of printed communications declined, paper producers tried to get the supply curve to meet the downward spiraling demand curve for printing-grade papers. Some mills changed over to produce products for which demand cannot be siphoned off by the internet: tissue paper and toilet paper. At least one pulp mill converted to producing the “fluff” fiber used in disposable diapers and similar products.

From the printer’s point of view, paper supply was plentiful, and prices were incredibly stable. That has changed. Over the past several months, we have heard reports that some mills were simply not accepting new orders until their backlog clears. Coated paper production capacity is reportedly down at least 20% from 2016, and prices have moved correspondingly upwards by 20% or more. The price for wood pulp, the raw material for paper, has increased 23% versus the same time last year, and is up 45% or more since the bottom of the pricing cycle in 2016. Commercial printers have been forced to place orders well in advance, maintain higher inventories, and quote new orders “subject to” price and availability of paper.

In October, we noted a robust resurgent interest and investment in paper mills. However, the recent transactions do not spell relief for the commercial printing, newspaper or publication printing segments. Transactional activity in paper production has been focused on packaging grades in apparent response to the “Amazon effect” that is increasing demand for corrugated shipping cartons and the positive economy which is driving demand for consumer packaging.

ND Paper, the US subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Nine Dragons Paper, the world’s second largest containerboard producer behind US-based International Paper, announced that it is acquiring the shuttered Old Town Paper Mill in Maine. Concurrent with the acquisition, ND Paper disclosed plans to invest $25 million and restart production at the mill in the first quarter of 2019. The mill, which will be producing unbleached pulp for corrugated cartons, has been silent since 2015 when its owner declared bankruptcy and sold the mill in a 363 sale (see The Target Report: Specialties are Targeted, Mills Close and Consolidate – January 2015). The plans to reopen the mill at that time never materialized and there was talk of selling the mill for scrap. ND Paper also acquired two other US paper mills earlier this year, one in Rumford, Maine and the other in Biron, Wisconsin. Both of those mills were purchased from Canada-based Catalyst Paper. ND Paper recently announced that it would be investing $111 million to increase efficiency at the Rumford mill. While it is a positive sign that a mill is starting back up and investments are planned, printing companies relying on coated printing grades should not get too excited - ND Paper is converting a machine in Biron from coated printing grades to containerboard, and there is discussion in the industry that similar conversions may be in the future at Rumford.

The private equity owners of Catalyst Paper announced the sale of the business to Paper Excellence Canada, a recent entry into the papermaking business which has been acquiring paper mills in Canada, France and Germany. The sale includes Catalyst’s three remaining mills, a distribution center and headquarters facility. Paper Excellence Canada produces pulp, printing papers and packaging grades, and is focused on exporting its products to Asia and in particular to China.

New York-based private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg acquired the specialty paper business of paper manufacturer Glatfelter in October. Lindsay Goldberg has rebranded the spun-off paper products company as Pixelle Specialty Solutions. Glatfelter, known for many years for its cream-colored text papers used primarily in book manufacturing, continues on as a global engineered materials company producing filtration, hygiene and other fiber-based products. Established during the civil war when Philip Glatfelter acquired the bankrupt Howard Paper Company in Spring Forge, Pennsylvania, the original purchase included a shuttered stone mill building with one small paper machine. In a distant echo of today’s squeeze in the pulp markets, the former owner had been forced into insolvency by the shortage of linen rags due to the war (papermaking from wood-based fibers was still in its infancy at the time).

Carthage, New York-based Carthage Specialty Paperboard, which filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2018, was acquired by Ox Industries. The acquiring company was not the highest final bidder but emerged as the winner in the Bankruptcy Court 363 sale process due to its superior demonstrated financial ability to close the deal. Ox Industries has eight plants across several states, and manufactures paper tubes and cores, and paperboard.

New-Indy Containerboard, based in Ontario, California, has acquired Resolute Forest Products’ paper and pulp mill in Catawba, South Carolina. The acquired mill has two idle papermaking machines, formerly configured to produce coated printing paper, but given the focus of the acquiring company on packaging grades (check out the company name of the buyer), its likely those machines will be restarted to produce containerboard, not printing grades. Presumably, printing companies that are struggling to procure sufficient paper are hopeful that the currently active machine at the Catawba mill will continue to produce coated printing grades, at least until more supply comes online (not in sight at this time) or demand falls further (likely, but not what we hope for), and the supply and demand come back into balance.

Book Printing

CJK Group, which has been rolling up companies in the book manufacturing segment, cut short the plans of erstwhile competing book industry consolidator Printing Consolidation Co. (“PCC”) with the acquisition of PCC’s two companies, Dickinson Press and Kingsport Book. Dickinson Press is noted for its specialty printing of books on very lightweight papers, including bibles, educational and business books. Kingsport Book brings specialized finishing into the CJK family. Both companies will be rolled into CJK’s game changing acquisition earlier this year of The Sheridan Group (see The Target Report – Legacy Printing Companies Fade Into History).

North of the border, Marquis Book Printing now claims to be Canada’s largest book printing company, based on its acquisition of Webcom. The acquired company utilizes traditional offset and digital inkjet printing to offer complete end-to-end book production to reduce inventories, including its BookOnDemand service. Marquis reports that the combined companies now have capacity to produce over 100 million books annually in its three plants.

Lots of ink has been spilled in the past several days about the announced acquisition of LSC Communications by Quad/Graphics, with much more to come we’re sure as that deal works its way through regulatory hurdles. LSC has been strategically acquiring distribution companies to augment the printing assets which were included when it was spun off from RR Donnelley (see Transformation and Rebirth – July 2017 M&A Activity), including the acquisition earlier this year of RR Donnelly’s print logistics business. LSC has also been moving upstream in electronic content, exemplified by its acquisition of MAZ Systems in July this year (see The Target Report: If you Can’t Beat ’em, Join ’em). All of those acquisitions now become part of the Quad/Graphics family which will replace RR Donnelley as the largest US-based printing company, including LSC’s significant book production capabilities.



2018 October - Mergers and Acquisitions in the Printing, Packaging, Paper & Related Industries  

Deal Party #1
(Surviving Entity)
Pre-Deal
Revenues
($Mil )


Party #1 Address


Deal Party #2
Pre-Deal
Revenues
($Mil )


Party #2 Address
Date
Deal
Public
Deal
Value
($Mil)

Deal Structure
(Intermediary)


Notes

Press
Release
Lindsay Goldberg No Data New York, NY Specialty papers business
(Div. Glatfelter)
No Data
($1,800)
York, PA 10/31/18 $360.0 Acquisition Specialty paper mills Link
Quad/Graphics $4,150 Sussex, WI LSC Communications $3,810 Chicago, IL 10/31/18 $1,400 Acquisition Magazine & book printing Link
Trucolor No Data Greenville, SC Print Division
(Greenville Office Supply)
No Data Greenville, SC 10/29/18 No Data Acquisition Printing & copying Link
Ricoh $18,720 Tokyo, Japan LAC Corporation No Data Tokyo, Japan 10/26/18 No Data Acquisition Industrial printing Link
Charter Oak Equity No Data Westport, CT Licaplast Industries Emballages No Data Saint-Laurent, QC 10/25/18 No Data Mngt. Buyout Flexible packaging, films, bags Link
PLI Card Marketing Solutions
(Port co. Platinum Equity)
No Data Las Vegas, NV Harvard Card Systems No Data City of Industry, CA 10/22/18 No Data Acquisition Plastic card printing Link
Ox Industries No Data Hanover, PA Carthage Specialty Paperboard No Data Carthage, NY 10/20/18 $9.9 363 Sale in Ch. 11 Paperboard mill Link
Hearst $10,800 New York, NY Hersam Acorn Newspapers No Data Ridgefield, CT 10/18/18 No Data Acquisition Community newspapers Link
Brook & Whittle
(Port co. Snow Phipps Group)
No Data North Branford, CT Prime Package and Label No Data St. Louis, MO 10/18/18 No Data Acquisition Label printing Link
Sterling North America No Data Hauppauge, NY Ocean Group $4.0 Ronkonkoma, NY 10/17/18 No Data Acquisition
(Graphic Arts Advisors)
Commercial printing Link
Graphic Solutions Group No Data Dallas, TX Spectrum Screen Printing Supplies No Data Big Bend, WI 10/16/18 No Data Acquisition Screen printing supplies Link
Premier Press No Data Portland, OR JTW Partners No Data Portland, OR 10/11/18 No Data Acquisition Graphic production services Link
ND Paper
(Sub. Nine Dragons Paper)
No Data Oak Brook Terrace, IL
(Hong Kong)
Old Town Paper Mill
(Prop. OTM Holdings)
$0.0 Old Town, ME 10/10/18 No Data Acquisition Kraft paper mill Link
Summa No Data Gistel, Belgium CadCam Technology No Data Nottingham, UK 10/10/18 No Data Acquisition Laser cutting equipment Link
Paper Excellence Canada No Data Richmond, BC Catalyst Paper
(Port co. Oaktree Capital)
No Data Richmond, BC 10/9/18 No Data Acquisition Paper manufacturing Link
CJK Group No Data Brainerd, MN Kingsport Book
(Port co Blackford Capital)
No Data Church Hill, TN 10/8/18 No Data Acquisition Book binding services Link
CJK Group No Data Brainerd, MN Dickinson Press
(Port co Blackford Capital)
$35.0 Grand Rapids, MI 10/8/18 No Data Acquisition Book printing Link
Felix Schoeller NA No Data Pulaski, NY Alameda No Data Anaheim, CA 10/8/18 No Data Acquisition Graphic supplies distributor Link
Marquis Book Printing No Data Montmagny, QC Webcom No Data Scarborough, ON 10/3/18 No Data Acquisition Book printing Link
Sherwood Printers No Data Mississauga, ON Printer Gateway No Data Mississauga, ON 10/2/18 No Data Acquisition Commercial printing (trade) Link
New-Indy Containerboard No Data Ontario, CA Paper & Pulp Mill
(Prop Resolute Forest Products)
No Data Catawba, SC 10/2/18 $300.0 Asset acquisition Kraft & coated paper mill Link
Gerber Technology No Data Tolland, CT MCT Digital No Data Milwaukee, WI 10/2/18 No Data Acquisition Digital cutting equipment Link
Heidelberg $2,860 Heidelberg, Germany MBO Group $57.0 Oppenweiler,
Germany
10/2/18 No Data Acquisition Bindery equipment Link
Sign-Zone
(Port co. Pfingsten)
No Data Brooklyn Center, MN Jansen Display Group No Data Přestanov,
Czech Republic
10/2/18 No Data Acquisition Display & signage hardware Link
Rohrer
(Port co. Shoreview)
No Data Wadsworth, OH Transparent Container No Data Addison, IL 10/1/18 No Data Acquisition Packaging, folding cartons Link
Green Bay Packaging No Data Green Bay, WI Citadel Industries No Data Aurora, IL 10/1/18 No Data Acquisition Pressure-sensitive stocks Link


2018 October - Bankruptcy Filings in the Printing, Packaging, Paper & Related Industries



Filing Party

Date
Case
Filed
Pre-Petition
Revenues
($Mil )



Case #



Filing Party Address



Circuit



Region & City



Judge



Attorney for Debtor



Notes
Chapter 11 Filings:
No Chapter 11 Filings Found this Month --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Chapter 7 Filings:
Dzign Displays, LLC 10/22/18 No Data 18-30988 Chester, NJ 3rd New Jersey
Newark
John K. Sherwood  Scott S. Rever  Trade show exhibits
Medallion Press, Inc. 10/18/18 No Data 18-29298 Aurora, IL 7th Northern IL
Chicago
Janet S. Baer E. Philip Groben Paperback book publisher
Print & More Associates, Inc. 10/2/18 No Data 18-13717 Mattapoissett, MA 1st Massachusetts
Boston
Joan N. Feeney Gary W. Cruickshank  Print & promo distributor


2018 October - Non-Bankruptcy Closures in the Printing, Packaging, Paper & Related Industries



Closed Company / Facility

Date of Closure
Pre-Closure
Revenues
($Mil )



Closing Address
Related Party Related Party
Address
Date Closure Public


Notes

Press
Releases
James E. McGirr 11/15/18 No Data Plymouth, MA None N/A Oct-18 Commercial printing Link
Bethany Printing Company 11/28/18 No Data Lamoni, IA Bethany Republican Clipper Bethany, MO Oct-18 Consolidating printing in other plants Link
Agfa Graphics - Plate facility 12/31/18 No Data Branchburg, NJ Agfa Graphics Mortsel, Belgium Oct-18 Printing plate manufacturing Link
Rex Publishing / Parish Service 11/14/18 No Data Farmington Hills, MI None N/A Oct-18 Book & diary printing Link
Matlet Group 10/8/18 No Data Pawtucket, RI None N/A 10/8/18 Folding cartons, menu printing Link